Compare towns
Castleton vs Cavendish vs Reading vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Cavendish | Reading | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,242 |
699Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Reading and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.